May 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 54

" These are 100-year decisions you are making, " Murphy said. " Don't accept the reply that 'We don't have the
money'-there's always money if it's a priority.
" Remember, great cities have great parks. "

Policy Dinner
Parks get Americans moving-in ways that improve
public health and enrich the national transportation
system. Public Policy Dinner speakers Dr. Heidi Blanck
(chief of Obesity Prevention and Control at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention) and Greg Nadeau
(deputy administrator for the Federal Highway Administration) addressed the vital roles parks play in
getting kids active, raising the standard for healthy
vending and concessions, taking cars off the roads,
and providing the public with transportation choices.
" Too many kids are struggling with obesity, "
Blanck said. She went on to outline the implications
of this generation's growing weight problem for both
the national defense and the fabric of the U.S. economy. From rising incidences of military recruits being
too physically unfit to serve their country, to chronic
health problems that decrease worker productivity,
Blanck outlined an obesity problem that weakens our
nation in alarming ways.
" So, what are the solutions? " she posed.
A catalog of ideas and resources followed. Park
systems can negotiate cost-neutral healthy vending
and concession options, ensure that adequate water stations are available to patrons, host farmers'
markets, and partner with local health care systems.
Blanck also challenged park agencies to use technology and media wisely: to gather and layer public
health data into their GIS mapping, to guide park visitors via smart phone apps to drinking water stations
and healthy food options, and to tap into federal government public health resources online.
According to Greg Nadeau, automobile transportation alternatives are " good for the wallet, the
environment, and the health of the community. "
Nadeau addressed NRPA members in the midst of
a week of unusual partisanship, as legislators debated whether to extend the Transportation Bill. He
affirmed DOT's commitment to increasing transportation choices-including options for cyclists, pedestrians, and people in wheelchairs.
He also commended park agencies for taking leadership in their communities-by participating in such

transportation initiatives as Complete
Streets and Safe Routes to School.
The bottom line, according to
Nadeau, has nothing to do with partisan politics. It is, simply, " using the
entire surface transportation network
to make our country a better, healthier place. "

advocates to stand their ground and
support their positions with similar data.
Gregory Miller, president of the
Mike McIntyre
American Hiking Society, wrapped up
the briefing with his thoughts about
what it means to be in nature-is nature " out there " in the wilderness or is
it right here amidst the built environment? He challenged Congress not to
just think of conservation in terms of
Congressional Briefing
large pristine landscapes but also in
Wednesday's Hill Visit Day opened
terms of local parks and nearby nature.
with an early-morning briefing for
" Near is the new far, " he mused. He
Congressional staffers on the value
noted that conservation of plants and
and importance of parks and recreanimals fosters a human connection to
ation. Representative Mike McIntyre Matthew Zieper
nature, protects biodiversity, and cre(D-NC), a previous NRPA Congressional Award winner and founder of the Congressional ate a more livable city. Nature-focused neighborCaucus on Youth Sports, focused his remarks on a new hoods tend to be more valuable neighborhoods since
Government Accountability Office report on school- nature is a core human need. Recreation is the best
based physical education and sports programs (www. way to foster a conservation ethic-with no need to
gao.gov/products/GAO-12-350). He noted that in the travel to the backcountry.
past 30 years, childhood obesity has tripled, that the
direct economic cost of childhood obesity could be as Hill Visits
a high $14.3 billion per year, and that increased physi- As the briefing concluded, Legislative Forum attendees
cal activity offers not only an antidote for obesity-but were already beginning a day of Hill visits. Attendees
keys to improved attitudes, attention, and behavior.
were well-equipped for any situation, with handouts
Budget cuts around the country, however, have and " leave-behinds " for each legislative priority, not
created formidable challenges for many schools in to mention small laminated cards with brief notes that
providing enough physical activity for students. Fa- could be used as reminders or left behind as well. The
cilities are often inadequate, transportation costs for Indiana delegation even had an opportunity to try out
sports programs too high, and expert, team-build- a literal " elevator speech " when a representative they
ing coaches difficult to retain. McIntyre emphasized were unable to connect with earlier in the day turned
the character-building aspects of team sports and out to be waiting with them in the lobby for an elevator.
urged parks and schools to work together in increasA typical Hill visit opened with some light banter
ing youth sports participation.
about high school sports, a new hiking trail, or other
Richard Hamburg of the Trust for America's Health local news back in their home state-progressing into
had more to say about the broad-scale consequenc- cordial discussion of topics like LWCF as staffers asked
es of inadequate funding. Noting that preventative questions and took notes. Relating national legislative
health systems are chronically underfunded (having priorities to local effects proved to be crucial.
retreated to 1999-2000 levels), he outlined his organiAfter a day of fanning out across the Hill, weary atzation's two goals-developing a national prevention tendees regrouped at a reception at a Capitol Hill resstrategy and ensuring mandatory preventative health taurant to network and compare notes on the day's
funding. He described how grants to 61 communities meetings. Thursday, attendees had one final education
are resulting in new partnerships between traditional session on how to continue their advocacy at home.
health providers and non-traditional partners such as
Next year's Legislative Forum will be March
parks and recreation. If current five-year goals just for 19-21, 2013.
reducing obesity could be reached, Hamburg estimates
-by Phil Hayward, Maureen
the savings at $29 billion. He urged park and recreation
Hannan, and Elizabeth Beard
w w w . N R P A . O R G M A Y 2 0 1 2 Parks

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